The Saint-Fiacre Affair
:
Inspector Maigret

Publisher's Summary

Maigret savoured the sensations of his youth again: the cold, stinging eyes, frozen fingertips, an aftertaste of coffee. Then, stepping inside the church, a blast of heat, soft light; the smell of candles and incense. The last time Maigret went home to the village of his birth was for his father's funeral. Now an anonymous note predicting a crime during 'All Souls' Day mass draws him back there, where troubling memories resurface and hidden vices are revealed. Georges Simenon was born in Liège, Belgium, in 1903. Best known in Britain as the author of the Maigret books, his prolific output of over 400 novels and short stories have made him a household name in continental Europe. He died in 1989 in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he had lived for the latter part of his life.

What the Critics Say

"Compelling, remorseless, brilliant" (John Gray) "One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories" (Guardian) "A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness" (Independent)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful

Maigret is back in Moulins, the place of his birth. The police have received a message: "A crime will be committed at the church of Saint-Fiacre during first Mass on All Souls' Day."

When the Comtesse de Saint-Fiacre is found dead in her pew, a search begins for her missal, which may hold the key to her death.

Why should anyone want to do away with this woman, whom Maigret remembers in her promising, lovely youth? Many villagers, the parish priest, and a series of the countess' secretaries who became her lovers, all have secrets to keep, and good reasons to misdirect attention elsewhere. But could this be the one case Maigret loses control of? He begins to wonder....

I loved this Maigret, probably because I felt something of a bond with my fictional friend in his memories, especially those of the Catholic Church. Waking up in a cold room, trudging to Mass before dawn's light, the smell of melting wax votives, the French lace upon my head. How the liturgical thread sews together memories of youth. But, as here, it is not a sentimental journey to recall them.

The mystery has a hint of Christie's "A Murder Is Announced," but just a hint. The story is pure Simenon otherwise. The way the author illuminates a character with the telling detail, the sensory vividness of setting and scene, and his understanding of the world in which he lived combine to make this a great one.

The mysteries are novellas, or perhaps long stories, just the right length for lots of listens. I love the concise way Simenon writes, without a word wasted.

Gareth Armstrong is, as ever, perfect here. I hope he will continue to narrate the Maigret books, as I've become so accustomed to him in the role I can't imagine anyone else in his place.